Is it not the case that roughly 25 parts of carbon need 1 part of nitrogenI have seen this 25:1 ratio as a recommendation for optimizing the rate of bacterial decomposition (hot aerobic pile) without loss of surplus N as ammonia gas (old urine smell). Compost will occur under a range of conditions just smelly or slowly.
for composting to occur
I thought I had observed that a thick layer of very fine carbon rich material like saw dust does inhibit plant growth.I don't think I am contradicting Robyn... that the right mulch on the right soil could soak up available nitrogen from surface soils. I have also seen thick wet sawdust make soil underneath anaerobic, and ethylene gas produced from anaerobic decomposition can directly hurt plant roots. I think we are back in one of those 'it depends' situations.
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